In September 2005, a strategic planning summit brought together leaders from throughout Oregon to share information and insights and craft a statewide strategy for enhancing pre-engineering and applied sciences education in Oregon. Shortly after the summit a report describing the summit and the recommendations developed by its delegates was issued. A follow-up Workshop was held in November 2006, for which a report was issued in December giving the key conclusions of the workshop.

The OPAS Vision is that all Oregonians have the opportunity to choose and successfully pursue engineering or applied science as their field of study and career, thereby helping Oregon’s industries contribute to state economic needs, and innovate and prosper in the global economy.

The OPAS Mission is to increase the number of work-ready engineers and applied scientists in Oregon through collaborations of education sectors, industry, and government stakeholders that ensure that all K-12 students have access to high quality education and career exploration opportunities that prepare them for postsecondary and workplace opportunities and success.

The OPAS Strategy can be summarized as

• Motivate: Enhance the ability of STEM* education programs to increase students’ interest and knowledge of engineering and applied science opportunities.
• Prepare: Increase the students’ exposure to engineering and applied science through active learning, student inquiry, engineering problem solving, and creative teamwork.
• Succeed: Increase the enrollment and successful completion of STEM programs by underrepresented populations.
• Pathways: Create, develop, and maintain engineering and applied science pathways so that more students successfully transition among education institutions and into the workforce.

For a more complete summary of the OPAS Strategy click here.

• sets measurable goals including those that address increasing the motivation and academic preparedness of students who are pursuing or might pursue engineering or technology careers;
• improves coordination and cooperation among organizations;
• increases the amount that can be accomplished with limited resources;
• identifies ways of recruiting more resources;
• promotes efficient and seamless transfer of credit among education sectors;
• provides input to the Engineering & Technology Industry Council (ETIC) including criteria for possible future funding of pre-engineering and pre-college grants; and
• complements the work of the State Board of Education and the State Board of Higher Education and its Excellence in Delivery and Productivity Workgroup.

• Motivation: Motivating students to become interested in technical careers and take the courses required to prepare for these careers.
• Preparation: Helping students prepare for advanced work in engineering by assuring the right high-quality courses and facilities are available to them.
• Transfer: Increasing the ease of moving from one level to another and one institution to another while retaining credit for courses taken and making continuous progress towards well-paying jobs that contribute to Oregon’s economy.
• Retention: Assisting students in succeeding at each level and remaining motivated to continue with the path they have chosen.
• Diversity: Assuring that opportunities are available to students regardless of gender, race, or economic background.

• Oregon University System
• Oregon Department of Education
• Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development
• The Lemelson Foundation
• Intel Foundation